LO 7.

7 Explain why the density of the brine must be carefully controlled

during operation.
Not all of the seawater feed that is fed into an evaporator is changed into distillate.
That portion of the feed that does not become distillate is called brine. The
concentration of sea salts in this water is called brine density, which has a direct
bearing on the quantity and quality of the distillate produced by the evaporator.

LO 7.8 Explain how and when an evaporator is operating normally the

brine is maintained at optimum density.
The working density of evaporators should not be allowed to rise above the
manufacturer’s recommendation. Feed water regulators and brine ejection
equipment must be kept in good working order. When the evaporator is in use it
must be treated with the selected scale retarding chemical. The treatment is to be
continuous rather than in "slug" form and is to conform to the supplier’s dosage
rates.

LO 7.9 States that excessive density of the brine should be avoided as it

will cause the metallic salts contained in seawater to carry over with the
vapor.
A high brine density indicates that too much of the feedwater is being converted into
distillate. Operation with a high brine density causes excessive scale on heat transfer
surfaces. This causes poor quality distillate due to excessive vapor formation. There
is possible carryover and reduced efficiency due to the loss of heat energy carried
over with the brine.

LO 7.10 States the effect of maintaining the density of the brine too low.
A low brine density indicates that not enough of the feedwater is being converted to
distillate. A low brine density means poor efficiency in the plant, a condition that
result in a reduced output capacity.
LO 7.11 Explains how the type of the scale deposited on heating surfaces.
Boiler scale is caused by impurities being precipitated out of the water directly on
heat transfer surfaces or by suspended matter in water settling out on the metal and
becoming hard and adherent. Evaporation in a boiler causes impurities to
concentrate. This interferes with heat transfers and may cause hot spots. Leading to
local overheating. Scaling mechanism is the exceeding of the solubility limits of
mineral substances due to elevated temperature and solids concentration at the
tube/water interface. The deposition of crystalline precipitates on the walls of the
boiler interferes with heat transfer and may cause hot spots, leading to local
overheating.

LO 7.12 Explains how the scale described in the above objective is

removed.
Mechanical removal is done by means of a pig or by abrasive jetting that
cuts scale but leaves the tubing untouched. Scale-inhibition treatments involve
squeezing a chemical inhibitor into a water-producing zone for subsequent
commingling with produced fluids, preventing further scale precipitation.

LO 7.13 Defines the term distillation as used in marine engineering

practice.
The function of a distiller as that of condensing fresh water from the vapor produced
in an evaporator. States that cooling is usually achieved by heat exchange with
seawater flowing through tubes or coils.

LO 7.14 Describes the function of a distiller as that of condensing fresh

water from the vapor produced in an evaporator.
An evaporator, distiller or distilling apparatus is a piece of ship's equipment used to
produce fresh drinking water from sea water by distillation. Fresh water production
from sea water for domestic and auxiliary purposes is an essential requirement
aboard ships. A considerable amount of fresh water is consumed in a ship. The crew
consumes an average 100 liter/head/day. In a steam ship (a ship whose main
propulsion unit is steam turbine or a ship which is a large tanker having steam
turbine driven cargo oil pumps) the consumption for the boiler can be as high as 30
tons/day.

LO 7.15 States that cooling is usually achieved by heat exchanger with

seawater flowing through tubes or coils.
A device that transfers heat through a conducting wall from one fluid to another.
Heat exchangers are used to transfer heat from a hotter fluid (liquid or gas) to a
colder fluid. This broad definition covers a wide range of equipment, including
boilers, condensers, distilling plants, and ventilation cooling coils. Shell-and-tube
heat exchanger is fabricated from round tubes that are settled in, and run parallel to
a shell. Heat is transferred between the fluids by passing through the walls of tubes.
This type of exchanger consists of six basic elements: the bonnet, tub sheet, shell,
tubes, baffles or support plates, and the tie rods.